Work

Cats1817

Good Morning,

I am currently self employed & on NS ESA (unable to receive UC due to household income). However my self employment is not bringing in much income. I am looking to go back to PAYE employment but struggling to find any work within the permitted hours/pay for NS ESA. If I were to take a job that was over that amount I understand my NS ESA would cease, but if I couldn’t manage with the hours at work and that stopped, would I be able to go back onto my NS ESA? I am worried about loosing it and having no financial support otherwise.

Thank you in advance for advice.

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

You would be able to go back on NS ESA, but only if the job fails within 12 weeks. This is known as a rapid reclaim.

After 12 weeks, you would have to make a new claim for NS ESA. If you have not worked enough to earn NI contributions within the past 3 years then you would not be able to claim NS ESA again.

12 weeks is almost 3 months so that should be enough time to decide whether working is right for you at this time or not.

Cats1817

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1109575#Comment_1109575

Thanks for replying. Much appreciated.

Is there anywhere I can find out about the rapid reclaim? Eg on an official website?

chiarieds

Hi @Cats1817 - the 12 week linking rule/rapid reclaim that OverlyAnxious mentions can be found in the 2013 ESA regulations, which have to be abided by: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/379/regulation/86

Storm25

Please someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think the NI contributions you currently have from your ESA would also count when eligibility for ESA is assessed (if you needed to reapply in the future)?

I also remember reading that it is changing to having up to 6 months to try working before a new claim would need to be made? So that would be worth checking.

Good Luck with your job search. I really hope it all works out well for you.

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1110545#Comment_1110545

Sorry but that is wrong. Part of the criteria for NS ESA is having earnt NI contributions from working within the past 2 years. It is not simply about the total number of contributions.